Guy Downers, a consultant for the solar firm, Sea Bright Solar, will discuss the status of the solar home-energy industry and possible subsidies to homeowners.

The future looks bright (pun intended) for solar energy. Positives include decreasing installation costs, growing solar jobs compared to the coal industry, reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere, more efficient and more attractive-looking home solar panels, and the public’s growing awareness of solar’s advantages.

But solar energy still faces serious obstacles: Millions of dollars being spent by electrical utilities and fossil fuel industries to oppose any alternate energy plans, especially solar; at least $10 billion primarily in tax breaks -- some dating back 100 years --  and millions in federal and state subsidies to shore up the profits of the coal, gas, and oil industries; outdated local zoning laws that don’t encourage solar installations; unresolved reimbursement issues for solar homeowners who could sell their excess electricity to the utilities; the continued need for fossil fuel “backup” networks; and the impact of large-scale commercial “solar farms” on forested lands.

6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.
The meeting, open to the public, begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Warner Student Life Center (SLC), Twin Lights Rooms I and II, with a pizza and subs buffet. Then the speaker begins at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is part of BCC and Sierra’s “Science Monday” series of monthly environmental lectures.

To get to Brookdale’s Lincroft campus, take Parkway Exit 109 to Route 520 West (Newman Springs Road, which becomes E. Main Street at the Lincroft campus). Take the traffic circle into the campus and follow the signs to the Warner Student Life Center (SLC). Use parking lot 7.  As you walk eastward towards the building complex, Warner is on the left. If lot 7 is full, use parking lots 5 or 6. A campus map is at http://www.brookdalecc.edu/PDFFiles/MAPS/MAP_04_08.pdf .